1
as in to rub
to make smooth by friction
after sawing the board in half, rasp the ends to remove any splinters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
the two siblings seemed intent on rasping each other for the entire car trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to wear
to damage or diminish by continued friction
during the last ice age, glaciers rasped the surface, leaving the deeply scarred rock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rasp
Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025
Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 29 Sep. 2025
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Cody Gapko struck the post three times — once with a deflected cross, twice with rasping drives — while Senne Lammens saved Alexander Isak’s shot with an outstretched right foot.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Noun
Kirbi, that rasp is so beautiful at the top of your register.
—Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025
Her strong, confident country voice shone through immediately in her performance of this Judds song, with just enough rasp to really give it some edge.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
She’s preoccupied though, training a gun on the facility’s head officer, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), whose RFK Jr. rasp and licentious focus on Perfidia sets him up as a comedic draw and a convincing picture of America’s sanctioned white violence.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Cody Gapko struck the post three times — once with a deflected cross, twice with rasping drives — while Senne Lammens saved Alexander Isak’s shot with an outstretched right foot.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rasp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rasp
Noun
-
The Canucks called up goaltender Jiri Patera from Abbotsford of the AHL as the backup to replace Kevin Lankinen, who was a late scratch.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Sources say all the sound and lighting had to be brought in from scratch for Mitski, at her team’s considerable expense.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mona says, rub her down with alcohol, then some Vicks, put the kettle on for the hot water bottle.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Nakua discussed touchdown celebrations on YouTuber Adin Ross' stream, and, in the video, Ross instructed Nakua to spike the ball, flex and then rub his hands together.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There are, naturally, layers of deception to scrape away first.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Avery Sullivan, with whom Morris also plays in the country-rock band Fust, keeps loose time on drums, tapping the snare like someone setting down coffee mugs while Libby Rodenbough scrapes out a few melody lines on her fiddle and colors empty spaces with some ghostly tremolo.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Black also appeared as a frustrated office worker trying to get a co-worker (Ashley Padilla) to stop talking to him and others annoyed by the woman.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Unless you’re annoyed at paying the junior engineers $300,000 a year straight out of school.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The temperature at first pitch was 37 degrees and continued to drop, with players wearing full sleeves and many wearing head coverings.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Players schlep downstairs, wearing slippers or sandals, and walk through the game plan and what to expect from their opponents.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The creak of a hinge, the thrum of water running through the pipes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In the opening moments, Loznitsa, working with the Romanian cinematographer Oleg Mutu, plants the camera before the prison gates, which open with a loud creak, allowing a fresh batch of emaciated arrivals to shuffle into a work yard.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This will make accounting and filing taxes easier.—
Metro Creative Services,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As it’s applied today, the law allows trial attorneys to prey on the state’s small and mid-sized businesses — filing frivolous, costly lawsuits over even the most minor violation of California’s complex labor code.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This sense of solidarity extends into the rose garden, where a dozen or so common pests show up year after year — some in spring, some in summer, and some persist and bug our roses (and us) throughout the year.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Chandler Zavala has been fighting the injury bug his whole career.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rasp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rasp. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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